Gazetteers are dictionaries of place-names. They describe towns, villages, counties, provinces, and population sizes; parishes; and rivers, mountains, and other geographical features. They usually include only places that existed at the time of publication.

Gazetteers are dictionaries of place-names. They describe towns, villages, counties, provinces, and population sizes; parishes; and rivers, mountains, and other geographical features. They usually include only places that existed at the time of publication.

To use, find the village in the index, which gives the page number in the gazetteer. This will help locate the district given at the top of the page. In the appendix section, using the name of the district and the village, you can determine the parish town where the church records were kept for your village.

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To use, find the village in the index, which gives the page number in the gazetteer. This will help locate the district given at the top of the page. In the appendix section, using the name of the district and the village, you can determine the parish town where the church records were kept for your village.

== Germany ==

== Germany ==

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Uetrecht, E., ''Meyers Orts und Verkehrs-Lexikon&nbsp;des Deutschen Reichs ''(Meyer’s gazetteer and directory of the German Empire). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912–. (FHL book 943.E5mo; film 496640–41; fiche 6000001– 29.) This gazetteer lists places alphabetically, gives their former German province, and states whether a place has its own parish or synagogue. It also indicates the location of the vital records office.

Uetrecht, E., ''Meyers Orts und Verkehrs-Lexikon&nbsp;des Deutschen Reichs ''(Meyer’s gazetteer and directory of the German Empire). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912–. (FHL book 943.E5mo; film 496640–41; fiche 6000001– 29.) This gazetteer lists places alphabetically, gives their former German province, and states whether a place has its own parish or synagogue. It also indicates the location of the vital records office.

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''Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preussen&nbsp;''(Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Prussia). 13 vols. Berlin: Verlag des Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts, 1907–09. (FHL book 943.E5kp; film 1186701, 0806633–35.) Volumes for each Prussian province are arranged by district with an index at the end. The gazetteer is in German Gothic print. Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

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''Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preussen&nbsp;''(Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Prussia). 13 vols. Berlin: Verlag des Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts, 1907–09. (FHL book 943.E5kp; film 1186701, 0806633–35.) Volumes for each Prussian province are arranged by district with an index at the end. The gazetteer is in German Gothic print. Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

== Russia (and many places in Austria and Germany) ==

== Russia (and many places in Austria and Germany) ==

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Kredel, Otto, and Franz Thierfelder, ''Deutsch-fremdsprachiges Ortnamenverzeichnis''&nbsp;(German-foreign gazetteer). 3 vols. Berlin: Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft, 1931. (FHL book 940 E5kt; film 0950387.) The purpose of this gazetteer is to locate place-name changes after World War I.

Kredel, Otto, and Franz Thierfelder, ''Deutsch-fremdsprachiges Ortnamenverzeichnis''&nbsp;(German-foreign gazetteer). 3 vols. Berlin: Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft, 1931. (FHL book 940 E5kt; film 0950387.) The purpose of this gazetteer is to locate place-name changes after World War I.

<br>[[Skorowidz Headings|''Skorowidz miejscowości rzeczypospolitej polskiej.'' A gazetteer of Poland between WWI and II (2 volumes)]]. 1934. (FHL book 943.8 E5sm; films 2037057-8.) Index of locallities of the Polish Republic. This gazetteer is arranged alphabetically in Polish. Jurisdictional information is given in columns. The parishes are listed in the last column. &lt;br&gt;

<br>[[Skorowidz Headings|''Skorowidz miejscowości rzeczypospolitej polskiej.'' A gazetteer of Poland between WWI and II (2 volumes)]]. 1934. (FHL book 943.8 E5sm; films 2037057-8.) Index of locallities of the Polish Republic. This gazetteer is arranged alphabetically in Polish. Jurisdictional information is given in columns. The parishes are listed in the last column. &lt;br&gt;

''Gemeindelexikon Der Im Reichsrate Vertretenen Königreiche and Länder''. V. 12 (1900). (FHL book 943.6 E5g.) This gazetteer was based on the 1900 census of Austria-Hungary; arranged by district with an index of both German and non-German versions of place-names.&nbsp; Population and other figures are given in columns with headings in German.&nbsp;&nbsp;Between the main text&nbsp;and the index is an&nbsp;appendix which indicates the location of the church vital records office.

''Gemeindelexikon Der Im Reichsrate Vertretenen Königreiche and Länder''. V. 12 (1900). (FHL book 943.6 E5g.) This gazetteer was based on the 1900 census of Austria-Hungary; arranged by district with an index of both German and non-German versions of place-names.&nbsp; Population and other figures are given in columns with headings in German.&nbsp;&nbsp;Between the main text&nbsp;and the index is an&nbsp;appendix which indicates the location of the church vital records office.

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''Genealogical Gazetteer of Galicia''. Lenius, Brian, Anola, Manitoba, Canada (1999). (FHL book 943.65 E5L.) A gazetteer with localities in Galicia which are now either in Poland or Ukraine.

''Genealogical Gazetteer of Galicia''. Lenius, Brian, Anola, Manitoba, Canada (1999). (FHL book 943.65 E5L.) A gazetteer with localities in Galicia which are now either in Poland or Ukraine.

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<br>

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<br>

''Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preußen''. Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts. Ostpreussen, Westpreussen, Brandenburg, Posen, Schlesien, Pommern.&nbsp;(6 volumes) (1907). (FHL book 943 E5kp.) This set of gazetteers has volumes for each of the Prussian provinces arranged by Kreis (district) with an index at the end.&nbsp; The index gives the Kreis number and the number of the locality as it appears in alphabetical order within the Kreis.&nbsp; (line number) The gazetteer is in German with Gothic style print.&nbsp; Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.&nbsp; The parish is given in column 25 (Evangelical) and column 26 (Catholic).

''Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preußen''. Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts. Ostpreussen, Westpreussen, Brandenburg, Posen, Schlesien, Pommern.&nbsp;(6 volumes) (1907). (FHL book 943 E5kp.) This set of gazetteers has volumes for each of the Prussian provinces arranged by Kreis (district) with an index at the end.&nbsp; The index gives the Kreis number and the number of the locality as it appears in alphabetical order within the Kreis.&nbsp; (line number) The gazetteer is in German with Gothic style print.&nbsp; Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.&nbsp; The parish is given in column 25 (Evangelical) and column 26 (Catholic).

''Słownik nazw geograficznych Polski zachódniej i pólnocnej.'' Place name change dictionary of places taken from Germany after WW II and that were incorporated into Poland and Russia. V. 1. (FHL book 943.8 E5sn; film 847874.)

''Słownik nazw geograficznych Polski zachódniej i pólnocnej.'' Place name change dictionary of places taken from Germany after WW II and that were incorporated into Poland and Russia. V. 1. (FHL book 943.8 E5sn; film 847874.)

''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> is a Polish language gazetteer. Its full title translated is “Geographic Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and Other Slavic Lands.” It was published in Warsaw between 1880 and 1903 in a series of 16 volumes, 14 alphabetical and two additional volumes with supplemental material. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> is a Polish language gazetteer. Its full title translated is “Geographic Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and Other Slavic Lands.” It was published in Warsaw between 1880 and 1903 in a series of 16 volumes, 14 alphabetical and two additional volumes with supplemental material. </span>

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This gazetteer is available online at [http://www.mimuw.edu.pl/polszczyzna/SGKPi/indexse2.html#x3-50002 The University of Warsaw] and also at [http://mbc.malopolska.pl/dlibra/publication?id=113&from=plannedpubssearch&dirids=1&tab=3 The Digital Library of Małopolska].

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This gazetteer is available online at [http://www.mimuw.edu.pl/polszczyzna/SGKPi/indexse2.html#x3-50002 The University of Warsaw] and also at [http://mbc.malopolska.pl/dlibra/publication?id=113&from=plannedpubssearch&dirids=1&tab=3 The Digital Library of Małopolska]. Click [http://www.torugg.org/Publications/How_to_use_Polish_Gazeteer_Online.pdf here] to read how to use The Geographical Dictionary on-line.

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> has 15 to 20 thousand entries about regions, cities, and towns of Eastern Europe. The description starts by giving the geographic setting of the village in relation to nearby rivers or larger towns. It also describes local features of importance such as schools, churches, telegraph offices, industries, and fortifications. Other important information sometimes included is population count broken down by religion, and history of warfare in the area.At times</span><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">&nbsp;this information is given for multiple years in the village, giving a picture of how the village changed over time. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> has 15 to 20 thousand entries about regions, cities, and towns of Eastern Europe. The description starts by giving the geographic setting of the village in relation to nearby rivers or larger towns. It also describes local features of importance such as schools, churches, telegraph offices, industries, and fortifications. Other important information sometimes included is population count broken down by religion, and history of warfare in the area.At times</span><span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">&nbsp;this information is given for multiple years in the village, giving a picture of how the village changed over time. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> also often traces the ownership of the village. These villages were usually owned by a Polish or Russian noble family. Sometimes the owners of these villages kept censuses of the residents of their lands. The papers of some of these large landowners have ended up in archival collections. AVOTAYNU ( http://www.avotaynu.com/ a Jewish Genealogy Organization) has a list of where known collections of such papers are located. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> also often traces the ownership of the village. These villages were usually owned by a Polish or Russian noble family. Sometimes the owners of these villages kept censuses of the residents of their lands. The papers of some of these large landowners have ended up in archival collections. AVOTAYNU ( http://www.avotaynu.com/ a Jewish Genealogy Organization) has a list of where known collections of such papers are located. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> is available in printed form in libraries with specialized Polish collections. It is available on films 9209957-9209971 at the Family History Library. The Polish Genealogical Society of America also produced a CD-ROM containing images from a limited production facsimile edition created in 1986-1987. </span>

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''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Slownik Geograficzny</span>''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823"> is available in printed form in libraries with specialized Polish collections. It is available on films 9209957-9209971 at the Family History Library. The Polish Genealogical Society of America also produced a CD-ROM containing images from a limited production facsimile edition created in 1986-1987. </span>

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<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Although the Polish in ''Slownik Geograficzny'' is over 100 years old and contains some obscure vocabulary and abbreviations, websites of the organizations AVOTAYNU, PolishRoots, and the PGSA have created helper lists for a large number of these terms. Another important note is that the sources ''Slownik Geograficzny'' drew upon to create this work were not always accurate. </span>

+

<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Although the Polish in ''Slownik Geograficzny'' is over 100 years old and contains some obscure vocabulary and abbreviations, websites of the organizations AVOTAYNU, PolishRoots, and the PGSA have created helper lists for a large number of these terms. Another important note is that the sources ''Slownik Geograficzny'' drew upon to create this work were not always accurate. </span>

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<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Source: </span>

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<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">Source: </span>

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<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">What can we learn from ''Slownik Geograficzny''? </span>

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<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241040361783_823">What can we learn from ''Slownik Geograficzny''? </span>

<span>Localities are listed alphabetically following the normal Polish alphabetical order except that o and&nbsp; ó are alphabetized as one letter.&nbsp; If there are several localities with the same name they are numbered; places in the Kingdom of Poland first, followed by places in Galicia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Prussia and other states.&nbsp; If the locality had a foreign name or alternate spelling it is indicated in italics after teh entry.&nbsp; Some entries will refer you to another entry with the abbreviation <u>ob</u> meaning "see".</span>

<span>Localities are listed alphabetically following the normal Polish alphabetical order except that o and&nbsp; ó are alphabetized as one letter.&nbsp; If there are several localities with the same name they are numbered; places in the Kingdom of Poland first, followed by places in Galicia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Prussia and other states.&nbsp; If the locality had a foreign name or alternate spelling it is indicated in italics after teh entry.&nbsp; Some entries will refer you to another entry with the abbreviation <u>ob</u> meaning "see".</span>

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<span>5.&nbsp; Population figures, agricultural data, number of houses, distance from other localities and other information:</span>

<span>5.&nbsp; Population figures, agricultural data, number of houses, distance from other localities and other information:</span>

Revision as of 19:20, 22 April 2013

Gazetteers are dictionaries of place-names. They describe towns, villages, counties, provinces, and population sizes; parishes; and rivers, mountains, and other geographical features. They usually include only places that existed at the time of publication.

The place-names are generally listed in alphabetical order.

Gazetteers may also provide the following information about towns:

Local religious denominations and parishes

Postal facilities and other communication facilities (telephone, telegraph, and so on)

You can use gazetteers to locate places where your family lived and determine the civil and church jurisdictions over those places. For example, Sarnów in Gliwice County is a small village that belongs to the Catholic parish of Toszek.

Because many places in Poland have the same or similar names, you will need to use a gazetteer to identify the specific town your ancestor lived in, the civil district it was in, and the jurisdictions where records about your ancestor were kept.

Gazetteers can also help you determine the county jurisdictions used in the Family History Library Catalog.

Finding Place-Names in the Family History Library Catalog

The Family History Library Catalog lists place-names under county (wojewódzstwo) jurisdictions used in the 1960s and 70s. Names are also listed under the German-Prussian province (Provinz) as of 1871–1914 or the Austrian province (Provinz) as of 1850–1915. To find the province that a town is filed under in the Family History Library Catalog, use the “see” references on the catalog’s first locality microfiche of each state. If you have the catalog on compact disc, use the “Locality Browse” search.

Each town is listed in the catalog with its district (powiat or Kreis) jurisdiction to distinquish it from other places of the same name.

Because of the many changes in place-names, the Family History Library uses one gazetteer as the standard guide for listing places in the Family History Library Catalog. Regardless of the names a place may have had at various times, all Polish places are listed in the catalog by the name they are listed under in:

Spis miejscowości Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej(Gazetteer of the Polish People’s Republic). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji I Łaczności, 1967. (FHL book 943.8E5s; film 0844922.) This gazetteer lists locality names as they existed from the 1950s to the 1980s. Locality names are listed alphabetically in column 1; column 3 indicates district; column 4, province; column 5, post office location; and column 7 the location of the current vital records office. For former Polish towns that are now part of Russia, see the 1934 Listing of Localities of the Polish Republic by Bystrzycki listed below.

Modern Place-Names

For research purposes such as correspondence, learn which jurisdictions your ancestral town was under at various times. Current jurisdictions can help you find the ancestral town on modern maps. The following modern gazetteers are at most large libraries and archives:

Wykaz urz.dowych nazw miejscowości w Polsce (List of official place-names in Poland). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akcydensowe, 1980. (FHL book 943.8 E5wu; fiche 6053522.) This gazetteer lists the jurisdictions as they were from the 1980s to 1998. Towns are listed alphabetically, giving the distict and province they are located in and the post office location. No parishes jurisdictions are listed.

Bystrzycki, Tadeusz. Skorowidz miejscowości Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej(Listing of localities of the Polish Republic). 3 vols. Przemyśl: Wydawnictwo Książnicy Naukowej, 1934. (FHL book 943.8 E5sm; film 11343868.) This gazetteer, of the republic of Poland from 1918–1939, is the most accurate gazetteer for the territory. It is arranged alphabetically in the first column. Other columns include townships, districts, provinces, post offices, and railways.

The last column gives parish jurisdictions but not synagogues. It does not include towns in western Poland that were part of Prussia in 1934 (for these towns, see the 1967 gazetteer mentioned previously).

Similar national sources are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

POLAND - POSTAL AND SHIPPING GUIDES

Historical Place-Names

With changes in national boundaries and governments, many place names and jurisdictions in Poland have changed. The following gazetteers identify Polish localities as they existed under Austrian, German, and Russian administrations:

To use, find the village in the index, which gives the page number in the gazetteer. This will help locate the district given at the top of the page. In the appendix section, using the name of the district and the village, you can determine the parish town where the church records were kept for your village.

Germany

Uetrecht, E., Meyers Orts und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs (Meyer’s gazetteer and directory of the German Empire). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912–. (FHL book 943.E5mo; film 496640–41; fiche 6000001– 29.) This gazetteer lists places alphabetically, gives their former German province, and states whether a place has its own parish or synagogue. It also indicates the location of the vital records office.

Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preussen (Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Prussia). 13 vols. Berlin: Verlag des Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts, 1907–09. (FHL book 943.E5kp; film 1186701, 0806633–35.) Volumes for each Prussian province are arranged by district with an index at the end. The gazetteer is in German Gothic print. Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

Gemeindelexikon Der Im Reichsrate Vertretenen Königreiche and Länder. V. 12 (1900). (FHL book 943.6 E5g.) This gazetteer was based on the 1900 census of Austria-Hungary; arranged by district with an index of both German and non-German versions of place-names. Population and other figures are given in columns with headings in German. Between the main text and the index is an appendix which indicates the location of the church vital records office.

Genealogical Gazetteer of Galicia. Lenius, Brian, Anola, Manitoba, Canada (1999). (FHL book 943.65 E5L.) A gazetteer with localities in Galicia which are now either in Poland or Ukraine.

Gemeindelexikon für das Königreich Preußen. Königlichen Statistischen Landesamts. Ostpreussen, Westpreussen, Brandenburg, Posen, Schlesien, Pommern. (6 volumes) (1907). (FHL book 943 E5kp.) This set of gazetteers has volumes for each of the Prussian provinces arranged by Kreis (district) with an index at the end. The index gives the Kreis number and the number of the locality as it appears in alphabetical order within the Kreis. (line number) The gazetteer is in German with Gothic style print. Information is given in columns and includes population figures as well as civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions. The parish is given in column 25 (Evangelical) and column 26 (Catholic).

Słownik nazw geograficznych Polski zachódniej i pólnocnej. Place name change dictionary of places taken from Germany after WW II and that were incorporated into Poland and Russia. V. 1. (FHL book 943.8 E5sn; film 847874.)

Slownik Geograficzny- Poland and Eastern Europe Gazetteer

Slownik Geograficzny is a Polish language gazetteer. Its full title translated is “Geographic Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and Other Slavic Lands.” It was published in Warsaw between 1880 and 1903 in a series of 16 volumes, 14 alphabetical and two additional volumes with supplemental material.

Slownik Geograficzny has 15 to 20 thousand entries about regions, cities, and towns of Eastern Europe. The description starts by giving the geographic setting of the village in relation to nearby rivers or larger towns. It also describes local features of importance such as schools, churches, telegraph offices, industries, and fortifications. Other important information sometimes included is population count broken down by religion, and history of warfare in the area.At times this information is given for multiple years in the village, giving a picture of how the village changed over time.

Slownik Geograficzny also often traces the ownership of the village. These villages were usually owned by a Polish or Russian noble family. Sometimes the owners of these villages kept censuses of the residents of their lands. The papers of some of these large landowners have ended up in archival collections. AVOTAYNU ( http://www.avotaynu.com/ a Jewish Genealogy Organization) has a list of where known collections of such papers are located.

Slownik Geograficzny is available in printed form in libraries with specialized Polish collections. It is available on films 9209957-9209971 at the Family History Library. The Polish Genealogical Society of America also produced a CD-ROM containing images from a limited production facsimile edition created in 1986-1987.

Although the Polish in Slownik Geograficzny is over 100 years old and contains some obscure vocabulary and abbreviations, websites of the organizations AVOTAYNU, PolishRoots, and the PGSA have created helper lists for a large number of these terms. Another important note is that the sources Slownik Geograficzny drew upon to create this work were not always accurate.

Source:

What can we learn from Slownik Geograficzny?

Richard M. Spector

Call Number: US 296.05 AV 79

Spring 2006 V. XXII Number 1

Localities are listed alphabetically following the normal Polish alphabetical order except that o and ó are alphabetized as one letter. If there are several localities with the same name they are numbered; places in the Kingdom of Poland first, followed by places in Galicia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Prussia and other states. If the locality had a foreign name or alternate spelling it is indicated in italics after teh entry. Some entries will refer you to another entry with the abbreviation ob meaning "see".

This is given with a grammatical ending. Refer to A Gazetteer of Polish Adjectival Place-Names (Ref. 943.8 E5sd, also on Film no 1,181531 item 4)

3. Township or Community (gm.gmina)4. Parish (par., parafia)

This is usually the Roman-Catholic parish (par. rz.kat.) unless otherwise specified: (par.ew.) Evangelical Lutheran., (par.prawos), Orthodox, (par.gr.k.) Greek-Catholic Uniate. If the parish is not specified in the entry then refer to the entry for a locality noted as being nearby.

5. Population figures, agricultural data, number of houses, distance from other localities and other information:

Web Resources

ShtetlSeeker is a major search resource for place names throughout eastern Europe. The biggest advantage of this search is that it uses a specialized soundex system to find places. This can be very helpful if your spelling is not quite accurate. Keep in mind that not all the results will be of value. A soundex result is not intended to provide sounds-like results. You have to be judicious in selecting the correct place from the display page.

Kartenmeister only covers those parts of Poland formerly ruled by Prussia. It is especially useful because it is based on the Germanic place names that existed in that era. It does not have a soundex system but will allow searches with starting letters, or combinations of middle and ending letters. It provides current equivalent Polish place names where known.